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The War of Angels #1
The Catalyst
Rose Elmsworth has a secret. For eighteen years, the world has been divided into the magically Gifted and the non-magical Ashkind, but Rose's identity is far more dangerous. At fifteen, she has earned herself a place alongside her father in the Department, a brutal law-enforcement organisation run by the Gifted to control the Ashkind. But now an old enemy is threatening to start a catastrophic war, and Rose faces a challenging test of her loyalties. How much does she really know about her father's past? How far is the Department willing to go to keep the peace? And, if the time comes, will Rose choose to protect her secret, or the people she loves?
448 pages, Hardcover
First published February 19, 2015
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1763 people want to read
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July 6, 2015
Really interesting read! I am looking forward to reading the next and seeing how the story progresses!
February 25, 2015
So I have to say first, that this book was written in first draft form when Helena was 13. Now upon publication she is 15. While we chew over that for a moment I have to say if this is the level she is writing at right now, good golly miss molly I'm dying to know what we'll be seeing a few years down the line...
Anyway more to the point - I thought this was brilliant and loved it with a fiery passion. Storytelling magic, especially if you like your Young Adult Dystopia novels but with a real world grounding, even more especially if you love adventure, intrigue, a touch of romance and a spot of outrage at the thought of having to wait WAIT for the next instalment.
We meet Rose then. Nearly 20 years ago, before she was born, something happened and after that night the world was utterly changed. Now society is divided, the Department enforces the law, but within its ranks there are hidden secrets. Not the least of which is Rose herself, who is hiding something that could destroy her.
It is intensely addictive for a few reasons. First of all Rose is terrific - feisty, determined but also emotional and often impulsive, which gives you an anchor into the rest of the tale. Which is ever so well constructed and often edge of the seat stuff. Secondly the world building is super - I found the premise to be really compelling and Helena Coggan gives it huge depth, taking her time over the course of the novel to embed in your mind all the different nuances of this new reality that Rose finds herself living in, sometimes learning things as she does and therefore feeling the impact. Mesh those two together, great characterisation and some stunning imagery and there you have it. A stonking good read.
Somehow there is also a twisty turny thriller in here - just when you think you have a handle on a situation, BAM, it all gets turned around on you. The grey area's between good and evil are beautifully drawn, really take your pick as to who's side you will end up on. Certainly Rose has her work cut out for her working out who to trust, which way to jump, what to do for the best. It is all very appealing and completely lively throughout.
It has had mixed reviews but for me this was an absolutely impressive debut novel from a young voice who is fast going attract a huge following. Hunger Games eat your heart out.
Loved it. Highly Recommended.
Happy Reading Folks!
Anyway more to the point - I thought this was brilliant and loved it with a fiery passion. Storytelling magic, especially if you like your Young Adult Dystopia novels but with a real world grounding, even more especially if you love adventure, intrigue, a touch of romance and a spot of outrage at the thought of having to wait WAIT for the next instalment.
We meet Rose then. Nearly 20 years ago, before she was born, something happened and after that night the world was utterly changed. Now society is divided, the Department enforces the law, but within its ranks there are hidden secrets. Not the least of which is Rose herself, who is hiding something that could destroy her.
It is intensely addictive for a few reasons. First of all Rose is terrific - feisty, determined but also emotional and often impulsive, which gives you an anchor into the rest of the tale. Which is ever so well constructed and often edge of the seat stuff. Secondly the world building is super - I found the premise to be really compelling and Helena Coggan gives it huge depth, taking her time over the course of the novel to embed in your mind all the different nuances of this new reality that Rose finds herself living in, sometimes learning things as she does and therefore feeling the impact. Mesh those two together, great characterisation and some stunning imagery and there you have it. A stonking good read.
Somehow there is also a twisty turny thriller in here - just when you think you have a handle on a situation, BAM, it all gets turned around on you. The grey area's between good and evil are beautifully drawn, really take your pick as to who's side you will end up on. Certainly Rose has her work cut out for her working out who to trust, which way to jump, what to do for the best. It is all very appealing and completely lively throughout.
It has had mixed reviews but for me this was an absolutely impressive debut novel from a young voice who is fast going attract a huge following. Hunger Games eat your heart out.
Loved it. Highly Recommended.
Happy Reading Folks!
March 2, 2015
It's been eighteen years since scientists accidentally tore a hole in the universe and changed the world forever. Humanity is now divided in two - the Gifted who are capable of magic and Ashkind who aren't. The world was turned upside down in a moment and things quickly escalated into a full on world war. Things are slightly calmer now though, the government has regained control and the Department plays a huge role in keeping the peace but there are still dissenters who believe that the Gifted and Ashkind should live separately, people on both sides who believe they should be the rightful rulers and who aren't happy with the way the war ended.
Rose's father works for the Department, in fact he pretty much set up the place, so she has been practically raised as part of the agency and has always intended to work for them when she grows up. But Rose and her father have a secret, one that could get them both killed if they are ever discovered, so when she is blackmailed by a convicted murderer she has to decide whether she is willing to betray the Department to protect herself and her father.
Helena Coggan wrote the first draft of The Catalyst when she was just 13 years old and now, at 15, she is a published author. I have to give her a huge amount of credit for that because it's an incredibly impressive achievement! I'm going to admit I was a little sceptical going into this one, I just wasn't sure what to expect considering the author's age and I worried that the writing might be a bit basic and too young for me. I'm happy to say I was very impressed, if I hadn't known beforehand I would never have guessed this book was written by a teenager. Helena Coggan has a brilliant writing style that I would say is far beyond her years, her descriptions, sentence structure and concepts were way beyond anything I expected and the story is incredibly easy to read. It's the kind of book that keeps you completely hooked and constantly turning the pages and I was able to devour it very quickly.
Rose is a likeable character, I liked the fact she's a pretty normal girl and I really loved the relationship she had with her adoptive father. The two of them are incredibly close and I enjoyed seeing their interactions but I think that made it harder to understand why she didn't go to him for help when she first found herself in trouble - especially since it was their joint secret that was at risk of being exposed. I was able to put that to one side fairly easily though and I enjoyed seeing Rose's opinions of the world change as she learned more information about both her father and the Department and realised that not everything was as it seemed. She is smart enough to work things through for herself and she always does what she thinks is right even when it means taking the harder path.
Right up until about halfway through the book I was all prepared to give this book a rave review but that's when things started to go wrong. Considering all the things Rose had done that were basically a complete betrayal of her father and the Department I couldn't understand why there were no consequences for her actions. It was more than a little ridiculous that they welcomed her back with open arms and it completely negated everything that had happened up until that part of the story. What was the point of everything we'd just read about? There really wasn't one and that just made me feel cheated. I'm afraid from that point on the story kind of lost me because if there aren't going to be consequences to Rose's actions then I stop feeling the danger of any new situations she finds herself in. The story continued to move along at a fast pace, in fact things really ramped up a gear towards the end, but I'd lost all connection to what was happening and didn't really care any more.
I don't think it helped that the constant point of view changes (which I have to admit were pretty jarring even in the beginning) only increased towards the end of the story. I found myself struggling to figure out which character's POV we were reading and having to keep rereading the beginning of new sections trying to work out what was happening. The choppy style made it harder to follow what was going on and meant I lost interest even more. Now I don't want to come across as completely negative here because the story definitely had it's good points and Helena Coggan has a huge amount of potential as an author, if she is capable of writing The Catalyst now I can't wait to see what she comes up with in the future. I have a feeling that this is going to be the first book in a series and if that's the case I will definitely be reading the next book and I have high hopes that the problems here will be ironed out in future instalments.
____________________________________
Thoughts before reading:
The author wrote the first draft of this book when she was 13, now she's 15 and already a published author. I feel like such an underachiever!!
Rose's father works for the Department, in fact he pretty much set up the place, so she has been practically raised as part of the agency and has always intended to work for them when she grows up. But Rose and her father have a secret, one that could get them both killed if they are ever discovered, so when she is blackmailed by a convicted murderer she has to decide whether she is willing to betray the Department to protect herself and her father.
Helena Coggan wrote the first draft of The Catalyst when she was just 13 years old and now, at 15, she is a published author. I have to give her a huge amount of credit for that because it's an incredibly impressive achievement! I'm going to admit I was a little sceptical going into this one, I just wasn't sure what to expect considering the author's age and I worried that the writing might be a bit basic and too young for me. I'm happy to say I was very impressed, if I hadn't known beforehand I would never have guessed this book was written by a teenager. Helena Coggan has a brilliant writing style that I would say is far beyond her years, her descriptions, sentence structure and concepts were way beyond anything I expected and the story is incredibly easy to read. It's the kind of book that keeps you completely hooked and constantly turning the pages and I was able to devour it very quickly.
Rose is a likeable character, I liked the fact she's a pretty normal girl and I really loved the relationship she had with her adoptive father. The two of them are incredibly close and I enjoyed seeing their interactions but I think that made it harder to understand why she didn't go to him for help when she first found herself in trouble - especially since it was their joint secret that was at risk of being exposed. I was able to put that to one side fairly easily though and I enjoyed seeing Rose's opinions of the world change as she learned more information about both her father and the Department and realised that not everything was as it seemed. She is smart enough to work things through for herself and she always does what she thinks is right even when it means taking the harder path.
Right up until about halfway through the book I was all prepared to give this book a rave review but that's when things started to go wrong. Considering all the things Rose had done that were basically a complete betrayal of her father and the Department I couldn't understand why there were no consequences for her actions. It was more than a little ridiculous that they welcomed her back with open arms and it completely negated everything that had happened up until that part of the story. What was the point of everything we'd just read about? There really wasn't one and that just made me feel cheated. I'm afraid from that point on the story kind of lost me because if there aren't going to be consequences to Rose's actions then I stop feeling the danger of any new situations she finds herself in. The story continued to move along at a fast pace, in fact things really ramped up a gear towards the end, but I'd lost all connection to what was happening and didn't really care any more.
I don't think it helped that the constant point of view changes (which I have to admit were pretty jarring even in the beginning) only increased towards the end of the story. I found myself struggling to figure out which character's POV we were reading and having to keep rereading the beginning of new sections trying to work out what was happening. The choppy style made it harder to follow what was going on and meant I lost interest even more. Now I don't want to come across as completely negative here because the story definitely had it's good points and Helena Coggan has a huge amount of potential as an author, if she is capable of writing The Catalyst now I can't wait to see what she comes up with in the future. I have a feeling that this is going to be the first book in a series and if that's the case I will definitely be reading the next book and I have high hopes that the problems here will be ironed out in future instalments.
____________________________________
Thoughts before reading:
The author wrote the first draft of this book when she was 13, now she's 15 and already a published author. I feel like such an underachiever!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2016
I bought a copy of The Catalyst last year in a clearance sale. I think I’d seen it online before I’d bought it. The cover stood out in the store but that’s not the reason I got it.
I was very surprised at the history of the Gifted and Ashkind. Not in a bad way. I’ve read about angels and demons before but the twist on the lore in The Catalyst is great! I really liked that Helena did her own thing and it made for a very interesting story.
Rose is hiding a very big secret that she’s kept from all but one person in her life because if it’s ever discovered she could be in a lot of trouble. Rose was raised to be able to defend herself so that if her secret was ever revealed, she could stand up for herself. Rose is confident and can come across as arrogant. She’s also smart and really intuitive.
There is so much that happens in The Catalyst that I’m not sure what I can talk about without giving something away. I like having spoiler free reviews so I’m finding it hard to review this book.
I loved how Helena set up some parts of the story. She’d hint at something big happening and I’d get kind of excited, then the chapter would end and the story would go somewhere else, leaving me hanging and a little confused but not for very long. Whatever it was that was left out would eventually be revealed. For a debut novel it was brilliantly put together.
Oh my god and the ending! What an amazing twist. There was so much going on that I wasn’t able to predict anything and I wasn’t putting the book down until I knew what was going on.
I’ve already read the sequel, The Reaction, and will be reviewing it soon. If you haven’t picked up The Catalyst yet I highly recommend you do. It’s one of the best books I’ve read so far this year and with out saying too much, the sequel is just as good if not a little better. You’ll just have to wait for my review to see what I thought
I was very surprised at the history of the Gifted and Ashkind. Not in a bad way. I’ve read about angels and demons before but the twist on the lore in The Catalyst is great! I really liked that Helena did her own thing and it made for a very interesting story.
Rose is hiding a very big secret that she’s kept from all but one person in her life because if it’s ever discovered she could be in a lot of trouble. Rose was raised to be able to defend herself so that if her secret was ever revealed, she could stand up for herself. Rose is confident and can come across as arrogant. She’s also smart and really intuitive.
There is so much that happens in The Catalyst that I’m not sure what I can talk about without giving something away. I like having spoiler free reviews so I’m finding it hard to review this book.
I loved how Helena set up some parts of the story. She’d hint at something big happening and I’d get kind of excited, then the chapter would end and the story would go somewhere else, leaving me hanging and a little confused but not for very long. Whatever it was that was left out would eventually be revealed. For a debut novel it was brilliantly put together.
Oh my god and the ending! What an amazing twist. There was so much going on that I wasn’t able to predict anything and I wasn’t putting the book down until I knew what was going on.
I’ve already read the sequel, The Reaction, and will be reviewing it soon. If you haven’t picked up The Catalyst yet I highly recommend you do. It’s one of the best books I’ve read so far this year and with out saying too much, the sequel is just as good if not a little better. You’ll just have to wait for my review to see what I thought
February 16, 2015
Actual rating 2.5
First up, I want to say that for a 15 year old, Helena Coggan has some serious skill and I am very impressed. If I were reading The Catalyst and reviewing it based on a young authors competition or something of the like, I would probably be more likely to rate it 4 or even 4.5. Unfortunately however, I was given this ARC from the supplier so that I could sell it to customers. In that context, The Catalyst falls flat, and in comparison to Laini Taylor and Samantha Shannon (as it has been compared against) it could even be called mediocre.
I also want to say that my following criticisms of the book are in no way intended to offend, attack or belittle the author, but to point out the reasons I didn't like it. I am actually really keen to see what Helena can put out next considering her already developing talent!
So, why I didn't like the book:
My biggest issue was that all the characters had the same voice. Every single character had the same mannerisms and tone and way of doing things; it was more like there was one character with all these little bodies. And I completely get that it is due to the author's lack of experience which will no doubt improve with time. Unfortunately, I just found it jarring and cringe worthy and I rolled my eyes a fair bit of the time because of it.
Another issue I had was the portrayal of relationships. David and Rose were well thought out and you could totally sink into and understand them, but that was the only relationship of note. I really didn't understand the point of having Nate, Maria and James in the book at all to be honest, as I didn't feel like Rose really connected with any of them.
At one point Nate stands up for Rose saying that she is his best friend, but in the lead up to that all I had seen was them arguing or him giving her nasty looks. James was sweet, but absolutely useless in this novel; though hopefully he will play a bigger part in book two. I also found her relationship with Loren jarring, as it never really seemed they were enemies at all.
And thirdly, despite Rose apparently having an IQ of 126 (ladies and gents, that means she is in the top 3.5ish% of intelligence in the world) she made such stupid choices. For example, not telling her Dad about Loren or even once trying to get rid of him. Or putting her gun up to a commanding officer and threatening to kill him. I understand how emotions would get in the way during the situation, but after the fact you would think her intelligence would call for her to remedy the situation.
Now the things I did like:
The ending. It was a brilliant conclusion and I quite enjoyed it. I did however think that David's part on the last few pages was ill thought out, but hey, it was gripping and bumped the novel up from a 2 to a 2.5.
David. He was cool and bad-ass and complicated and sweet and fatherly. He was probably the best part of the book and the reason I didn't put it down halfway through.
The idea. It was clearly well thought out and I loved the premise. The prologue was a massive gripper and had you hooked to begin with! I also liked that the system had only been in place for 18 years, rather than just happening or having been there for decades. I thought it was a good amount of time to get everything up and running again.
So in conclusion...
When I came to the end of the book and I had one conclusion sticking out in the forefront of my mind. That was, the book has enormous potential, but I think the author should have sat on it for another few years. With that extra time I think her reading experience and maturity alone would have helped her combat the issues in the novel, even if she hadn't written another thing in between.
So I probably wouldn't recommend this book, but I would definitely keep an eye out for Helena Coggan's future work; she could be a big name in the next few years!
(I received this as an ARC for review purposes)
First up, I want to say that for a 15 year old, Helena Coggan has some serious skill and I am very impressed. If I were reading The Catalyst and reviewing it based on a young authors competition or something of the like, I would probably be more likely to rate it 4 or even 4.5. Unfortunately however, I was given this ARC from the supplier so that I could sell it to customers. In that context, The Catalyst falls flat, and in comparison to Laini Taylor and Samantha Shannon (as it has been compared against) it could even be called mediocre.
I also want to say that my following criticisms of the book are in no way intended to offend, attack or belittle the author, but to point out the reasons I didn't like it. I am actually really keen to see what Helena can put out next considering her already developing talent!
So, why I didn't like the book:
My biggest issue was that all the characters had the same voice. Every single character had the same mannerisms and tone and way of doing things; it was more like there was one character with all these little bodies. And I completely get that it is due to the author's lack of experience which will no doubt improve with time. Unfortunately, I just found it jarring and cringe worthy and I rolled my eyes a fair bit of the time because of it.
Another issue I had was the portrayal of relationships. David and Rose were well thought out and you could totally sink into and understand them, but that was the only relationship of note. I really didn't understand the point of having Nate, Maria and James in the book at all to be honest, as I didn't feel like Rose really connected with any of them.
At one point Nate stands up for Rose saying that she is his best friend, but in the lead up to that all I had seen was them arguing or him giving her nasty looks. James was sweet, but absolutely useless in this novel; though hopefully he will play a bigger part in book two. I also found her relationship with Loren jarring, as it never really seemed they were enemies at all.
And thirdly, despite Rose apparently having an IQ of 126 (ladies and gents, that means she is in the top 3.5ish% of intelligence in the world) she made such stupid choices. For example, not telling her Dad about Loren or even once trying to get rid of him. Or putting her gun up to a commanding officer and threatening to kill him. I understand how emotions would get in the way during the situation, but after the fact you would think her intelligence would call for her to remedy the situation.
Now the things I did like:
The ending. It was a brilliant conclusion and I quite enjoyed it. I did however think that David's part on the last few pages was ill thought out, but hey, it was gripping and bumped the novel up from a 2 to a 2.5.
David. He was cool and bad-ass and complicated and sweet and fatherly. He was probably the best part of the book and the reason I didn't put it down halfway through.
The idea. It was clearly well thought out and I loved the premise. The prologue was a massive gripper and had you hooked to begin with! I also liked that the system had only been in place for 18 years, rather than just happening or having been there for decades. I thought it was a good amount of time to get everything up and running again.
So in conclusion...
When I came to the end of the book and I had one conclusion sticking out in the forefront of my mind. That was, the book has enormous potential, but I think the author should have sat on it for another few years. With that extra time I think her reading experience and maturity alone would have helped her combat the issues in the novel, even if she hadn't written another thing in between.
So I probably wouldn't recommend this book, but I would definitely keep an eye out for Helena Coggan's future work; she could be a big name in the next few years!
(I received this as an ARC for review purposes)
May 25, 2015
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2015/05/t...
The Catalyst is a brilliantly unique concept. Society is segregated by those who have the ability of magic and those who do not. Humans evolving and now hold two souls, the secondary entity determining whether or not you're one of the lucky ones. This is where the storyline becomes more involved, as you also have separate groups known as the Leeched, citizens that have failed their Testing as teens and have had their abilities stripped. And the Hybrids, dangerous, unpredictable and illegal. It's explained briefly how humans have come to have two souls inhabiting the one body, but not why. I'm hoping this is addressed in the next installment. I really enjoyed seeing the parental bond between Rose and her father David, something we don't often see in young adult of late.
My main issue was that no one character felt defined, they seemed to blend into one another and all shared the same quirks and idiosyncrasies. Adults shared the same dialect as teens, and all spoke with dramatic pauses, repeating words for effect and crisp pronunciation. If we overlook that the author is only fifteen and only thirteen when the first draft was penned, the switch between characters was jarring and the style of writing felt juvenile at times. The main character in Rose pulling a gun in the workplace because their superior insulted her father for one. But being so young, that level of maturity will come with age and Helena Coggan will be a formidable author. Pared back, the storyline would have been far more engaging and allowed for further character development.
I loved the premise, but unfortunately the lack of clarity of characters and maturity let the execution down. There's no doubt that Helena Coggan is an incredible young talent, but needs to include more personality not only within her characters, but storyline as well to tame down the clinical feel. In a few years time and with a little more experience, she'll be a force to be reckoned with.
The Catalyst is a brilliantly unique concept. Society is segregated by those who have the ability of magic and those who do not. Humans evolving and now hold two souls, the secondary entity determining whether or not you're one of the lucky ones. This is where the storyline becomes more involved, as you also have separate groups known as the Leeched, citizens that have failed their Testing as teens and have had their abilities stripped. And the Hybrids, dangerous, unpredictable and illegal. It's explained briefly how humans have come to have two souls inhabiting the one body, but not why. I'm hoping this is addressed in the next installment. I really enjoyed seeing the parental bond between Rose and her father David, something we don't often see in young adult of late.
My main issue was that no one character felt defined, they seemed to blend into one another and all shared the same quirks and idiosyncrasies. Adults shared the same dialect as teens, and all spoke with dramatic pauses, repeating words for effect and crisp pronunciation. If we overlook that the author is only fifteen and only thirteen when the first draft was penned, the switch between characters was jarring and the style of writing felt juvenile at times. The main character in Rose pulling a gun in the workplace because their superior insulted her father for one. But being so young, that level of maturity will come with age and Helena Coggan will be a formidable author. Pared back, the storyline would have been far more engaging and allowed for further character development.
I loved the premise, but unfortunately the lack of clarity of characters and maturity let the execution down. There's no doubt that Helena Coggan is an incredible young talent, but needs to include more personality not only within her characters, but storyline as well to tame down the clinical feel. In a few years time and with a little more experience, she'll be a force to be reckoned with.
October 5, 2019
** mild spoilers **
4.75/5 stars because I'm bitchy like that ;)
First things first - Helena Coggan is TALENTED. She wrote her first draft of this at 13 and published it at 15. She is SKILLED and has done much more then most 15 year olds.
On the subject of amazing 15 year olds, let's talk about Rose, the main character of this insane book. She is one of the most badass, talented, funny and morally-grey teenage characters that I've ever read about, and she doesn't hide it. Rose has a secret, one that she and her dad will kill to protect. She lives in a world that, many years ago, was overrun by angels, and now there are two sides of the population - the Gifted - who can do magic, and the Ashkind - who have no powers and are ordinary humans. There are also demons, angels and hybrids, but you'll find out about them throughout the book.
Rose's father, David, is also morally-grey - something you find out as the book continues. However, he is one of the bravest, smartest and most wholesome characters that I've ever read about, and for that reason, I love him so, so much. David has raised Rose with the skills to fight using both magic and physical skills, and for this reason, she is extremely kick-ass and she doesn't hide it. But David hasn't been telling Rose the entire truth, and for this reason, there are quite a few betrayals throughout the story...
This brings me to the reason why there is a whole .25 taken off my rating, which should be 5/5 stars. And this is because, at one stage in the storyline, Rose betrays David and his Department (law enforcement type department) quite badly. And though she has good intentions (mostly), they shouldn't forgive her very easily, yet she is quickly cleared of all charges and set free to join the Department again. This grated on me because it shouldn't have been that easy, but I won't complain too much, I still loved the story.
Other amazing characters included Loren and James, who I loved (I also loved how Rose didn't understand the feelings James had for her ;)) and characters that I intensely hated included Aaron. Even typing his name makes me angry. Helena Coggan definitely knows how to influence my emotions!
In conclusion, this is an amazing book that I am so, so glad I read, and everyone should have the pleasure of reading it. Though it had a slow beginning, I still really loved it.
Also the ending destroyed me.
4.75/5 stars because I'm bitchy like that ;)
First things first - Helena Coggan is TALENTED. She wrote her first draft of this at 13 and published it at 15. She is SKILLED and has done much more then most 15 year olds.
On the subject of amazing 15 year olds, let's talk about Rose, the main character of this insane book. She is one of the most badass, talented, funny and morally-grey teenage characters that I've ever read about, and she doesn't hide it. Rose has a secret, one that she and her dad will kill to protect. She lives in a world that, many years ago, was overrun by angels, and now there are two sides of the population - the Gifted - who can do magic, and the Ashkind - who have no powers and are ordinary humans. There are also demons, angels and hybrids, but you'll find out about them throughout the book.
Rose's father, David, is also morally-grey - something you find out as the book continues. However, he is one of the bravest, smartest and most wholesome characters that I've ever read about, and for that reason, I love him so, so much. David has raised Rose with the skills to fight using both magic and physical skills, and for this reason, she is extremely kick-ass and she doesn't hide it. But David hasn't been telling Rose the entire truth, and for this reason, there are quite a few betrayals throughout the story...
This brings me to the reason why there is a whole .25 taken off my rating, which should be 5/5 stars. And this is because, at one stage in the storyline, Rose betrays David and his Department (law enforcement type department) quite badly. And though she has good intentions (mostly), they shouldn't forgive her very easily, yet she is quickly cleared of all charges and set free to join the Department again. This grated on me because it shouldn't have been that easy, but I won't complain too much, I still loved the story.
Other amazing characters included Loren and James, who I loved (I also loved how Rose didn't understand the feelings James had for her ;)) and characters that I intensely hated included Aaron. Even typing his name makes me angry. Helena Coggan definitely knows how to influence my emotions!
In conclusion, this is an amazing book that I am so, so glad I read, and everyone should have the pleasure of reading it. Though it had a slow beginning, I still really loved it.
Also the ending destroyed me.
February 25, 2018
DNF at 30%
I can‘t be bothered with this anymore. I tried to like it but honestly there were so many plot holes, it was confusing. So many things weren’t explained well enough
I can‘t be bothered with this anymore. I tried to like it but honestly there were so many plot holes, it was confusing. So many things weren’t explained well enough
December 10, 2017
I will probably read the upcoming books and they will probably get better, I just wish the book has been developed much, much more. It has such great potential, the writing is so obviously better than the "adult" YA authors, and the general idea of the books is also much more profound; there is just too much incoherence, under-developed characters, irrelevant incidents ... it actually pains me to think about them. This is only her first book though, written at 13 for god's sake. The trilogy will definitely get better, and so will she. My fingers are crossed.
January 3, 2021
This book was mostly enjoyable, however it had flaws which prevented me from giving it the 5 stars that it almost deserved.
Firstly, the characterisation was lacking. Rose was a pretty basic protagonist, not that pretty (but other people disagree), extremely talented, lacking interest in things most of her peers liked. In other words 'not like other girls'; aka my LEAST FAVOURITE trope. She was rather bland and machine like, however, the fact that we are seeing the book from her experiences means that there is less of a focus on her and more what is around her, so this isn't that big a deal. This lack of characterisation, however, extended to the supporting characters. Aaron's massive turnaround mid novel (starting from that horrendous date) was a bit random. Nate and Maria had little purpose in the book, it seemed, bar as narrative devices to further the illusion that Rose was indeed, just an average teenager. Not to spoil a huge turning point in the novel, some of the actions and words of Maria especially were forced and very obviously only there to reveal some huge helpful twist for the team of protagonists. I'd really hope that seeing as this is a trilogy, they will get their development later on so I'm not too bothered about this either.
Also, the perspective changes were not very well integrated into the novel. No indication was given as to whose perspective it was at any given time, so any time it occurred, I would spend a good minute or so re-reading the first page to try and work out who the narrative was centred around. This was sloppy, but could be remedied by the simple addition of character names alongside the chapter titles.
Onto the good parts of this book though; despite at points being a little badly written (AT POINTS, mostly it was pretty darn good), the story had me hooked. I tend to hate post-apocalyptic/dystopian fiction, but this really got me enjoying the plot. I like the fact that the dystopia resembles today's London so much, because it seems that all other novels in the genre are set in a world so disfigured that its hard to imagine it once was our present day Earth. The plot was great, and somewhat unexpected. Sometimes a little forced, but it was all for the greater good, to further the actual storyline. Mostly Coggan's writing style flows well so it was easy to get into. As a contrast to the criticism on characterisation above, I found David to be refreshing and realistic. As well as this, despite Rose being unlikeable as a character, the situations which she found herself in and the way she navigated them were realistic and relatable!
The fact that Helena is 15 and already published, not to mention with an actual good book is fantastic! I commend her greatly!
Anyway, I'd recommend this book to fans of the genre and non-fans alike. It's a fun read and I look forward to the second and third books of the trilogy (and then maybe an extension of the series... ;P)
Firstly, the characterisation was lacking. Rose was a pretty basic protagonist, not that pretty (but other people disagree), extremely talented, lacking interest in things most of her peers liked. In other words 'not like other girls'; aka my LEAST FAVOURITE trope. She was rather bland and machine like, however, the fact that we are seeing the book from her experiences means that there is less of a focus on her and more what is around her, so this isn't that big a deal. This lack of characterisation, however, extended to the supporting characters. Aaron's massive turnaround mid novel (starting from that horrendous date) was a bit random. Nate and Maria had little purpose in the book, it seemed, bar as narrative devices to further the illusion that Rose was indeed, just an average teenager. Not to spoil a huge turning point in the novel, some of the actions and words of Maria especially were forced and very obviously only there to reveal some huge helpful twist for the team of protagonists. I'd really hope that seeing as this is a trilogy, they will get their development later on so I'm not too bothered about this either.
Also, the perspective changes were not very well integrated into the novel. No indication was given as to whose perspective it was at any given time, so any time it occurred, I would spend a good minute or so re-reading the first page to try and work out who the narrative was centred around. This was sloppy, but could be remedied by the simple addition of character names alongside the chapter titles.
Onto the good parts of this book though; despite at points being a little badly written (AT POINTS, mostly it was pretty darn good), the story had me hooked. I tend to hate post-apocalyptic/dystopian fiction, but this really got me enjoying the plot. I like the fact that the dystopia resembles today's London so much, because it seems that all other novels in the genre are set in a world so disfigured that its hard to imagine it once was our present day Earth. The plot was great, and somewhat unexpected. Sometimes a little forced, but it was all for the greater good, to further the actual storyline. Mostly Coggan's writing style flows well so it was easy to get into. As a contrast to the criticism on characterisation above, I found David to be refreshing and realistic. As well as this, despite Rose being unlikeable as a character, the situations which she found herself in and the way she navigated them were realistic and relatable!
The fact that Helena is 15 and already published, not to mention with an actual good book is fantastic! I commend her greatly!
Anyway, I'd recommend this book to fans of the genre and non-fans alike. It's a fun read and I look forward to the second and third books of the trilogy (and then maybe an extension of the series... ;P)
September 25, 2015
I received a copy of this book for an honest review and I want to begin this review by saying that you wouldn't have thought a fifteen year old wrote this- not in my opinion anyway because its so wonderfully written. If I've learnt anything from this book its not to judge a young writers ability, so well done Helena!
Rose comes across as older than a fifteen year old girl, she comes across as very mature and practically got herself a job already at the Department because of her Dad, David. To me they seemed to have more of a best friend kind of relationship rather than father and daughter, this is brought to reason when we discover that Rose was adopted.
From the beginning with the prologue, it tells us of the Veilbreak but we're not yet enlightened as to what the aim the scientists were trying to achieve. A hole is ripped through the sky and souls from another world bleed through, attaching themselves to human beings giving some magic and not to others. The most powerful are the Angels (we haven't discovered much about them yet), the Gifted (recognisable from their green eyes) and the unmagical Ashkind (who we know once had magic but had it leeched from them when they took their Test at the age of fifteen, they're noticeable from their grey eyes). Demons and Hybrids are also brought into the picture and they're more complex out of them all.
After a war between the Gifted and the Ashkind a truce was signed and twelve years later tensions seem to be in the air again. Rose and David are at the center of all the trouble and are there to help keep the peace and hide secrets it would seem in order to keep the world a safe place. A Demon child, a murder and an escaped prisoner flips this onto itself and secrets begin to unfold.
I absolutely loved David, he's a mysterious character that keeps this book alive. A copious amount of secrets are held close to his chest- he's simply unpredictable.
The Regency group led by a somewhat "madman" has me intrigued too, I'm thinking he's going to be one of those characters that you love hating.
A unique storyline set in the heart of London, its filled with exciting characters and a plot that keeps on thickening throughout. This first book in the series holds a lot of promise for the next book to be even more thrilling and action packed. I would like to see more development from Rose, I feel her character is following in the steps of David and needs to branch out onto her own path so to speak and needs to think for herself. Other than that I know there's a lot more to be unraveled in this series and with that bombshell of an ending I can't help but be excited for what comes next!
Rose comes across as older than a fifteen year old girl, she comes across as very mature and practically got herself a job already at the Department because of her Dad, David. To me they seemed to have more of a best friend kind of relationship rather than father and daughter, this is brought to reason when we discover that Rose was adopted.
From the beginning with the prologue, it tells us of the Veilbreak but we're not yet enlightened as to what the aim the scientists were trying to achieve. A hole is ripped through the sky and souls from another world bleed through, attaching themselves to human beings giving some magic and not to others. The most powerful are the Angels (we haven't discovered much about them yet), the Gifted (recognisable from their green eyes) and the unmagical Ashkind (who we know once had magic but had it leeched from them when they took their Test at the age of fifteen, they're noticeable from their grey eyes). Demons and Hybrids are also brought into the picture and they're more complex out of them all.
After a war between the Gifted and the Ashkind a truce was signed and twelve years later tensions seem to be in the air again. Rose and David are at the center of all the trouble and are there to help keep the peace and hide secrets it would seem in order to keep the world a safe place. A Demon child, a murder and an escaped prisoner flips this onto itself and secrets begin to unfold.
I absolutely loved David, he's a mysterious character that keeps this book alive. A copious amount of secrets are held close to his chest- he's simply unpredictable.
The Regency group led by a somewhat "madman" has me intrigued too, I'm thinking he's going to be one of those characters that you love hating.
A unique storyline set in the heart of London, its filled with exciting characters and a plot that keeps on thickening throughout. This first book in the series holds a lot of promise for the next book to be even more thrilling and action packed. I would like to see more development from Rose, I feel her character is following in the steps of David and needs to branch out onto her own path so to speak and needs to think for herself. Other than that I know there's a lot more to be unraveled in this series and with that bombshell of an ending I can't help but be excited for what comes next!
February 25, 2015
Originally posted on:> http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot....
4.5/5
Upon hearing that The Catalyst was written by a 15 year old girl, I knew I just had to read it to find out what all the fuss was about. I went into this with an open mind- no expectations; good or bad, I was merely just very intrigued to read the story that Helena had written and had published at such a young age.
The story that Helena gives us is actually pretty brilliant. After only reading 50 pages, I knew she was one talented lady and more than deserved her two-book deal. The Catalyst was a gripping and surprisingly quick read. It is action-packed and not once are you left feeling bored or waiting for something to happen. What Helena brilliantly manages to create is suspense. There is always that need to keep turning the pages and find out what will happen. Rose's secret is a main focus of the story and that manages to give it that edge as there is always the fear that she will get found out.
Rose as the protagonist comes across a lot older than her 15 years and has some brilliant, aspirational character traits. She's independent, sassy and not one to get pushed around. She is easy to like and you will 100% be on her side.
I must admit to one teeny expectation- the language and descriptions, I assumed that they would be superfluous and complicated, as to get a book deal so young, I thought this would be the type of language used to impress, but I was very wrong. The descriptions and language are simple but highly effective. The author uses the exact words needed to make an impact, and this definitely helped with my enjoyment and quick reading of the story. As well as this everything is explained perfectly, so I was quickly absorbed in amongst the pages.
The only slight criticism I have of this is that towards the end, the writing and dialogue seemed to jump about and was a little quick. I would have to re-read bits to establish what had happened. As said though, this was only towards the end and it still didn't deter from my enjoyment of the story.
Overall a truly brilliant, gripping and suspenseful read. I am looking forward to reading more from Helena.
4.5/5
Upon hearing that The Catalyst was written by a 15 year old girl, I knew I just had to read it to find out what all the fuss was about. I went into this with an open mind- no expectations; good or bad, I was merely just very intrigued to read the story that Helena had written and had published at such a young age.
The story that Helena gives us is actually pretty brilliant. After only reading 50 pages, I knew she was one talented lady and more than deserved her two-book deal. The Catalyst was a gripping and surprisingly quick read. It is action-packed and not once are you left feeling bored or waiting for something to happen. What Helena brilliantly manages to create is suspense. There is always that need to keep turning the pages and find out what will happen. Rose's secret is a main focus of the story and that manages to give it that edge as there is always the fear that she will get found out.
Rose as the protagonist comes across a lot older than her 15 years and has some brilliant, aspirational character traits. She's independent, sassy and not one to get pushed around. She is easy to like and you will 100% be on her side.
I must admit to one teeny expectation- the language and descriptions, I assumed that they would be superfluous and complicated, as to get a book deal so young, I thought this would be the type of language used to impress, but I was very wrong. The descriptions and language are simple but highly effective. The author uses the exact words needed to make an impact, and this definitely helped with my enjoyment and quick reading of the story. As well as this everything is explained perfectly, so I was quickly absorbed in amongst the pages.
The only slight criticism I have of this is that towards the end, the writing and dialogue seemed to jump about and was a little quick. I would have to re-read bits to establish what had happened. As said though, this was only towards the end and it still didn't deter from my enjoyment of the story.
Overall a truly brilliant, gripping and suspenseful read. I am looking forward to reading more from Helena.
December 25, 2014
I was given a copy of this book by the team at lovereading.co.uk.
The Catalyst was, first of all, a wonderful book. It takes place in a London sometime in the future, where the people are divided into those Gifted with magic and those not, in addition to Demons and Hybrids, creatures feared and hunted by the government. The Department, in charge of enforcing the laws, is run by our heroine’s father. Both Rose and her father have secrets to protect from their own Department, and when a runaway begins to blackmail her she must make the decision of whether to help him or risk her father’s life.
I was particularly impressed by the world building in this debut novel. Everything was made clear eventually and, while it is a world no one would want to live in, I had such a clear picture of it that it felt real while I was reading it. The character development and relationships were also really well done and I really did care about Rose, her father, and the others.
Keep reading to the end as there are surprising twists and turns. I am ready for a sequel. Helena Coggan’s bio says she wrote the first draft of this at thirteen, and I hope she continues writing about this exquisitely intricate world that she has created.
The Catalyst was, first of all, a wonderful book. It takes place in a London sometime in the future, where the people are divided into those Gifted with magic and those not, in addition to Demons and Hybrids, creatures feared and hunted by the government. The Department, in charge of enforcing the laws, is run by our heroine’s father. Both Rose and her father have secrets to protect from their own Department, and when a runaway begins to blackmail her she must make the decision of whether to help him or risk her father’s life.
I was particularly impressed by the world building in this debut novel. Everything was made clear eventually and, while it is a world no one would want to live in, I had such a clear picture of it that it felt real while I was reading it. The character development and relationships were also really well done and I really did care about Rose, her father, and the others.
Keep reading to the end as there are surprising twists and turns. I am ready for a sequel. Helena Coggan’s bio says she wrote the first draft of this at thirteen, and I hope she continues writing about this exquisitely intricate world that she has created.
March 6, 2015
Full review over at my blog: https://lilypadblogs.wordpress.com/20...
Disorganised mess. Nope. Just. No. It really shows that the author was only thirteen when she first conceived the idea – the writing is disjointed, and jumps between styles. The descriptions are cliche, and the characters don’t jump out of the page. Nobody is really fleshed out; Rose is your stereotypical protagonist – not too pretty, not that attractive – oh but she has a GIFT. SHE’S UNUSUAL. IMPORTANT. WILL SAVE THE WORLD or some other plan like that.
I really admire Coggan for being published at 15 – after all, isn’t that every writer’s dream? – but I don’t think she has enough life experience to be able to give different characters different, cohesive voices. The adults don’t sound like adults. The younger characters sound like they’re trying to be adults. I just… I really wanted to like this. I really did. But it turned out to be every dystopian cliche in the book. I don’t recommend this. I really don’t. It’s a shame. It could have been fantastic – there are flashes of promises within – and yet, it isn’t. It really isn’t.
Disorganised mess. Nope. Just. No. It really shows that the author was only thirteen when she first conceived the idea – the writing is disjointed, and jumps between styles. The descriptions are cliche, and the characters don’t jump out of the page. Nobody is really fleshed out; Rose is your stereotypical protagonist – not too pretty, not that attractive – oh but she has a GIFT. SHE’S UNUSUAL. IMPORTANT. WILL SAVE THE WORLD or some other plan like that.
I really admire Coggan for being published at 15 – after all, isn’t that every writer’s dream? – but I don’t think she has enough life experience to be able to give different characters different, cohesive voices. The adults don’t sound like adults. The younger characters sound like they’re trying to be adults. I just… I really wanted to like this. I really did. But it turned out to be every dystopian cliche in the book. I don’t recommend this. I really don’t. It’s a shame. It could have been fantastic – there are flashes of promises within – and yet, it isn’t. It really isn’t.
March 22, 2015
Four and a half stars!
I really enjoyed this book, it amazes me that it was written by someone so young. What an amazing imagination and such a well structured plot. The whole concept was fascinating and tied up nicely, yet the potential for a sequel is very exciting. I look forward to seeing what this very talented young author does next.
I really enjoyed this book, it amazes me that it was written by someone so young. What an amazing imagination and such a well structured plot. The whole concept was fascinating and tied up nicely, yet the potential for a sequel is very exciting. I look forward to seeing what this very talented young author does next.
November 6, 2020
Original and intriguing.
February 5, 2016
You can find my review on my blog here (& below):
http://elementaread.blogspot.co.uk/20...
‘The Catalyst’ by Helena Coggan is a young adult dystopian novel set in a future where Angels have fused their souls with humans and given some of them extraordinary powers.
This book is set eighteen years after the Veilbreak when the Angels first crossed into our world. They split the population into two groups; Gifted and Ashkind. The Gifted have green eyes, in various shades based on their magical capabilities, whereas the Ashkind have grey eyes and possess no magic. There are also the Angels, those with the brightest green eyes and the most powerful who rule the government, and the Demons, those with pure black eyes who are feared by everyone. Then there are the Hybrids, who every six weeks would change into a terrifying monster and kill uncontrollably. During the first War of the Angels the Ashkind were shunted by society, but now the two races live in relative peace.
Rose Elmsworth is a fifteen-year-old Gifted girl about to take the test that will determine whether she is allowed to keep her gifts or not. All young Gifted take this test and those who fail have their powers Leeched, and are seen as lower down than the Ashkind. Rose is the daughter of David Elmsworth, a high ranking official in the Department (London’s law enforcement) and is expected to pass with no problems. But Rose and David have a secret and they’re terrified that someone is going to find out.
They also have bigger fish to contend with. Rose is being blackmailed by someone who knows their secret, The Gospel, and anti-Ashkind group, are making threats to the government and an underground Ashkind army known as Regency and led by a terrifying Hybrid are threatening war. Can Rose and her loved ones survive all this unscathed?
I thought this was a fantastic debut novel by a very talented young author. I really liked that the main character of a fifteen-year-old girl was actually written by a fifteen-year-old girl. Most YA authors are at least a decade older than their main characters so I feel like Helena’s character had more authenticity. Despite her age, the writing is brilliant and it had the feel of being written by a more experienced author. Her vocabulary and way of wording things were fantastic and the story flowed really well. My only criticism is that I found the history of the Angels and some parts of the plot a bit confusing and difficult to follow, but I worked it all out later on.
This was a very interesting concept and I’d love to find out more about this dystopian future so I’m hoping that Helena will write a sequel. I’ll definitely be looking out for more of her work to she how her writing progresses as she gets older :)
http://elementaread.blogspot.co.uk/20...
‘The Catalyst’ by Helena Coggan is a young adult dystopian novel set in a future where Angels have fused their souls with humans and given some of them extraordinary powers.
This book is set eighteen years after the Veilbreak when the Angels first crossed into our world. They split the population into two groups; Gifted and Ashkind. The Gifted have green eyes, in various shades based on their magical capabilities, whereas the Ashkind have grey eyes and possess no magic. There are also the Angels, those with the brightest green eyes and the most powerful who rule the government, and the Demons, those with pure black eyes who are feared by everyone. Then there are the Hybrids, who every six weeks would change into a terrifying monster and kill uncontrollably. During the first War of the Angels the Ashkind were shunted by society, but now the two races live in relative peace.
Rose Elmsworth is a fifteen-year-old Gifted girl about to take the test that will determine whether she is allowed to keep her gifts or not. All young Gifted take this test and those who fail have their powers Leeched, and are seen as lower down than the Ashkind. Rose is the daughter of David Elmsworth, a high ranking official in the Department (London’s law enforcement) and is expected to pass with no problems. But Rose and David have a secret and they’re terrified that someone is going to find out.
They also have bigger fish to contend with. Rose is being blackmailed by someone who knows their secret, The Gospel, and anti-Ashkind group, are making threats to the government and an underground Ashkind army known as Regency and led by a terrifying Hybrid are threatening war. Can Rose and her loved ones survive all this unscathed?
I thought this was a fantastic debut novel by a very talented young author. I really liked that the main character of a fifteen-year-old girl was actually written by a fifteen-year-old girl. Most YA authors are at least a decade older than their main characters so I feel like Helena’s character had more authenticity. Despite her age, the writing is brilliant and it had the feel of being written by a more experienced author. Her vocabulary and way of wording things were fantastic and the story flowed really well. My only criticism is that I found the history of the Angels and some parts of the plot a bit confusing and difficult to follow, but I worked it all out later on.
This was a very interesting concept and I’d love to find out more about this dystopian future so I’m hoping that Helena will write a sequel. I’ll definitely be looking out for more of her work to she how her writing progresses as she gets older :)
March 18, 2015
Catalyst was simply a mind-blowing and stunning read, I'm going to be honest and say that I did not know Helena was 15 years old to get this published, the story-line was gripping enough for me to want to read it. But for a young woman to achieve such height at a young age is amazing, and I for one cannot wait for the next installment.
I enjoyed reading this novel from third person, it gave me more to see with all the characters, we get to see how they progress from the very beginning to the very end of the novel, which though is very slow we get to see how they handle certain situations. Though I enjoy reading - from time to time - third person novels, it got confusing at certain points as to who done what or what happened to so and so, making me think back to who that chapter was focusing on. I personally don't enjoy doing that, I prefer having what I just read completely clear and fresh instead of having to recollect what just happened.
Hybrids, Demons, Angels and Ashkind. All thrust into a world just after war with drastic changes, changes with hierarchy and power, but that doesn't always mean that Ashkind will change and accept it without a fight. NOPE. The Department had quite a few likable characters that made reading this novel a lot more interesting, I feel that supporting characters made this novel even more amazing. Even young Rose herself, such a strong and courageous protagonist, but it got the point were I was left thinking "but she's only fifteen" *thinks back to when I was fifteen* uhmmm... moving on. Despite the decisions and situations Rose was placed in, she was a very likable character who's presence made a huge impact on the novel. I loved her relationship with her father, sometimes even I forgot that he wasn't her father, he found her and took her in, But their relationship and bond was simply amazing to read. This novel just shows that there are strong bonds besides family.
Rose Elmsworth isn't the only one who keeps on surprising us, David Elmsworth is not far behind. Such a true form of a leader, the character was written very well, all emotions were clear to see. We saw what truly lay behind David, a worried father with many secrets and tricks up his sleeve. This novel was mind-blowing and I must say that this should be read by you all, despite all the mixed reviews, read it and fall in the depths of a new London, where Hybrids are threats and Angels compel you to spill your secrets. What can Rose expect from The Department when they are threatened by a force far more deceiving than any they have met, but most of all what can she do to help all those she loves?
I enjoyed reading this novel from third person, it gave me more to see with all the characters, we get to see how they progress from the very beginning to the very end of the novel, which though is very slow we get to see how they handle certain situations. Though I enjoy reading - from time to time - third person novels, it got confusing at certain points as to who done what or what happened to so and so, making me think back to who that chapter was focusing on. I personally don't enjoy doing that, I prefer having what I just read completely clear and fresh instead of having to recollect what just happened.
Hybrids, Demons, Angels and Ashkind. All thrust into a world just after war with drastic changes, changes with hierarchy and power, but that doesn't always mean that Ashkind will change and accept it without a fight. NOPE. The Department had quite a few likable characters that made reading this novel a lot more interesting, I feel that supporting characters made this novel even more amazing. Even young Rose herself, such a strong and courageous protagonist, but it got the point were I was left thinking "but she's only fifteen" *thinks back to when I was fifteen* uhmmm... moving on. Despite the decisions and situations Rose was placed in, she was a very likable character who's presence made a huge impact on the novel. I loved her relationship with her father, sometimes even I forgot that he wasn't her father, he found her and took her in, But their relationship and bond was simply amazing to read. This novel just shows that there are strong bonds besides family.
Rose Elmsworth isn't the only one who keeps on surprising us, David Elmsworth is not far behind. Such a true form of a leader, the character was written very well, all emotions were clear to see. We saw what truly lay behind David, a worried father with many secrets and tricks up his sleeve. This novel was mind-blowing and I must say that this should be read by you all, despite all the mixed reviews, read it and fall in the depths of a new London, where Hybrids are threats and Angels compel you to spill your secrets. What can Rose expect from The Department when they are threatened by a force far more deceiving than any they have met, but most of all what can she do to help all those she loves?
February 25, 2015
Absolutely fantastic, a real page turner! This was one of those books that one gets easily hooked to and can't put down. I read this in a single day. Writing as a 15 year old girl, this was the perfect book for me. I cannot recommend this book enough. I really felt like I was living the book, not reading it.
The main character, Rose, is witty and intelligent and I loved the relationships between her and the other main characters. The relationship she has with her father, David, is well constructed and I was rooting for both of them the whole way through. The story is set in a future version of London where there is magic. People have merged with souls from another realm and as a result some people have magic and others don't. The strength of magical abilities also varies. The interesting thing is that Rose has a secret, one that, if discovered, would rip her life to shreds.
This book was very cleverly written and I was immensely impressed to see the author on BBC Breakfast where I realised that she was the same age as me!! A 15 year old author! I soon discovered that she had written the first draft of the book at 13. I wish I could write something as gripping as this at my age now. I am completely in awe of the author and the book. (even a little jealous at her skill with words) When you read the book, you wouldn't believe that it was written by a 15 year old. The writing is sophisticated and cleverly structured. I will be recommending it to all of my friends as I thoroughly enjoyed the read and I highly recommend The Catalyst to anyone reading this review now.
I adored this book and can't wait for the next one!!
The main character, Rose, is witty and intelligent and I loved the relationships between her and the other main characters. The relationship she has with her father, David, is well constructed and I was rooting for both of them the whole way through. The story is set in a future version of London where there is magic. People have merged with souls from another realm and as a result some people have magic and others don't. The strength of magical abilities also varies. The interesting thing is that Rose has a secret, one that, if discovered, would rip her life to shreds.
This book was very cleverly written and I was immensely impressed to see the author on BBC Breakfast where I realised that she was the same age as me!! A 15 year old author! I soon discovered that she had written the first draft of the book at 13. I wish I could write something as gripping as this at my age now. I am completely in awe of the author and the book. (even a little jealous at her skill with words) When you read the book, you wouldn't believe that it was written by a 15 year old. The writing is sophisticated and cleverly structured. I will be recommending it to all of my friends as I thoroughly enjoyed the read and I highly recommend The Catalyst to anyone reading this review now.
I adored this book and can't wait for the next one!!
March 4, 2015
I was inspired to read The Catalyst once finding out that Helena wrote her first draft age the young age of just thirteen. Wow! that is really amazing. What amazes me even more that Helena finished her book even though it two years to write The Catalyst.
The story opens up with a crack in the sky that loomed over London. Private Thomas Argent of the Third Royal Battalion has been murdered, but no weapons were found at the crime scene. There was only one explanation, the killer must of used pure magic to kill the victim.
The Catalayst is about True evil is impossible to hide. Rose has a secret. For eighteen years, the world has been divided into the magically Gifted and the non-magically Ashkind, but Rose identity is far more dangerous. At fifteen, she has earned herself a place alongside her father in the Department, a brutal law-enforcement organisation run by the Gifted to control the Ashkind. But now an old enemy is threatening to start a catastrophic war, and Rose faces a challenging test of her loyalties. How much does she really know about her father's past? How far is the Department willing to keep the peace? And, when the time comes, will Rose choose to protect her secret, or the people she loves.
I look forward to the young new novelist Helena Coggan's next novel.
The story opens up with a crack in the sky that loomed over London. Private Thomas Argent of the Third Royal Battalion has been murdered, but no weapons were found at the crime scene. There was only one explanation, the killer must of used pure magic to kill the victim.
The Catalayst is about True evil is impossible to hide. Rose has a secret. For eighteen years, the world has been divided into the magically Gifted and the non-magically Ashkind, but Rose identity is far more dangerous. At fifteen, she has earned herself a place alongside her father in the Department, a brutal law-enforcement organisation run by the Gifted to control the Ashkind. But now an old enemy is threatening to start a catastrophic war, and Rose faces a challenging test of her loyalties. How much does she really know about her father's past? How far is the Department willing to keep the peace? And, when the time comes, will Rose choose to protect her secret, or the people she loves.
I look forward to the young new novelist Helena Coggan's next novel.
April 15, 2015
3.5 stars
I know most people have already said it, but i'm going to say it as well, the fact that the first draft of this was written by a 13 year old and then published by a 15 year old - MIND BLOWN! And for having been written by someone so young i am impressed with the writing.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. I love stories set around wars/conflicts between magical and non-magical people.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Rose and her father, but having said that, i thought that her relationships with the other side characters, Nate, Maria and James for example, were underdeveloped.
The pacing of the book was really great, it didn't feel like it lagged it any point, which was great.
I did find a few parts of the book didn't make sense in the context of everything that had happened.
Overall this was really enjoyable and i really hope the author publishes a sequel.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy to review.
I know most people have already said it, but i'm going to say it as well, the fact that the first draft of this was written by a 13 year old and then published by a 15 year old - MIND BLOWN! And for having been written by someone so young i am impressed with the writing.
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. I love stories set around wars/conflicts between magical and non-magical people.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Rose and her father, but having said that, i thought that her relationships with the other side characters, Nate, Maria and James for example, were underdeveloped.
The pacing of the book was really great, it didn't feel like it lagged it any point, which was great.
I did find a few parts of the book didn't make sense in the context of everything that had happened.
Overall this was really enjoyable and i really hope the author publishes a sequel.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy to review.
April 27, 2015
For a fifteen year old author I have to say this book blew my mind. The writing was exquisite and way beyond anything I expected. Some of the language and expression was extremely detailed and I really enjoyed it. Plot wise it fell slightly flat, the beginning was just a tad confusing (so much going on at once) but once the plot kicked off it really started to shape an enjoyable dystopian/fantasy novel. It was a unique idea that I thought worked well, I just saw so much potential with it that I would have liked to see. It was all going so well until the end. Mmm that ending for me just wasn't overly sufficient - I would have liked to have seen a lot more to it. I was excited at the concept of spying on the enemy but there were just too many parties in play. I think I would have enjoyed this so much more if it was just one force against the other, but when you have a triad of people it's just difficult to try and understand. A shame really.
March 8, 2015
Really surprised in a very good way. A Veilbreak with Angels & other entities fusing into the souls of people below. Sounds a bit 'Supernatural' ? Yes but there is no Dean or Sam.
Instead we follow 18yrs after the Angel wars, a young girl of 15 who's adopted father works for The Department keeping order between Ashkind and the Gifted.
I liked the twists and the characters were good, especially the emotions a young 15yr old would have, and the relationships between different systems needed since the Angels landed.
Is it YA?
More Half Bad but I reckon if you are giving The Fire Sermon a go this is just as good.
I was impressed with the writing by Coggan as being 13 on her first draft I doubt she would recognise it in full format so well done to the gang at Hodder for signing this up, I hope there are more!
Instead we follow 18yrs after the Angel wars, a young girl of 15 who's adopted father works for The Department keeping order between Ashkind and the Gifted.
I liked the twists and the characters were good, especially the emotions a young 15yr old would have, and the relationships between different systems needed since the Angels landed.
Is it YA?
More Half Bad but I reckon if you are giving The Fire Sermon a go this is just as good.
I was impressed with the writing by Coggan as being 13 on her first draft I doubt she would recognise it in full format so well done to the gang at Hodder for signing this up, I hope there are more!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2015
As a fan of Samantha Shannon's The Mime Order and Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson Series The Catalyst by the very Gifted and talented author Helena Coggan was quite a remarkable achievement. The story was fun, fast-paced and action packed. If these are the stories that Helena Coggan is conjuring at the moment then it is certainly going to be fascinating to see what she can do with the years to come. Many congratulations, a thoroughly enjoyable read.
April 1, 2015
I have to DNF this I'm afraid. It didn't capture my imagination and for me it didn't read very well. It was very disorganised. Disjointed. I didn't get very far and I hate to DNF a book.
April 12, 2017
4.5 stars. I hadnt really heard anything about this book before I read it. All I had to go on was the blurb and a feeling I'd like it. I did like it too, I really liked it. Rose was awesome and the plot twists and action gripped me from the start. Highly recommend.
June 4, 2017
*Received from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Thrilling and dangerous, this novel surpassed my expectations by miles! I really like the cover, it is simple but it stands out; the cover of the hardcover is my favourite though as in the centre it has a silhouette of Rose and her father.
Having won the war, the Gifted are superior to the Ashkind. For the past eighteen years they have been divided, but there are more divisions within the Gifted, they just don't know from who. But when faced with their worst enemy, the Department must try to solve their mysteries whist a traitor is in their midst, and Rose and David Elmsworth must protect their secrets with their lives.
Rose is an incredibly powerful and strong-willed protagonist. She was easily likeable for she wanted to do everything she could to help those around her, but would do anything to protect the ones she loved. What I also liked was though she was strong and a model fighter, who displayed little emotion and was trained to kill, she still had conflicted emotions over killing others, unless they threatened the ones she loved. She acted on instinct and was an interesting protagonist to read about, seeing the difference from the character that she was, wanted to be, and who she believed she was.
The plot of this novel was amazing, I was certainly not expecting it. Coggan is a terrifically talented author who created this dark and addictive world, ridden with secrets and lies, but also displayed true imagination and depth to the novel. The imagery was phenomenal and I could constantly picture the scenes occurring meaning I was unable of get it out of my mind when not reading. For me, it was the cleverness and intricacy of the ending, though I was originally confused when reading the first time round, the last couple of chapters really answered you questions and the way Coggan illustrated it was truly smart and intriguing; I had definitely not seen it coming.
This is a thrilling and addictive read, that was certainly darker than I expected it to be; the ending was also perfect. I am very excited for Coggan's future works.
Thrilling and dangerous, this novel surpassed my expectations by miles! I really like the cover, it is simple but it stands out; the cover of the hardcover is my favourite though as in the centre it has a silhouette of Rose and her father.
Having won the war, the Gifted are superior to the Ashkind. For the past eighteen years they have been divided, but there are more divisions within the Gifted, they just don't know from who. But when faced with their worst enemy, the Department must try to solve their mysteries whist a traitor is in their midst, and Rose and David Elmsworth must protect their secrets with their lives.
Rose is an incredibly powerful and strong-willed protagonist. She was easily likeable for she wanted to do everything she could to help those around her, but would do anything to protect the ones she loved. What I also liked was though she was strong and a model fighter, who displayed little emotion and was trained to kill, she still had conflicted emotions over killing others, unless they threatened the ones she loved. She acted on instinct and was an interesting protagonist to read about, seeing the difference from the character that she was, wanted to be, and who she believed she was.
The plot of this novel was amazing, I was certainly not expecting it. Coggan is a terrifically talented author who created this dark and addictive world, ridden with secrets and lies, but also displayed true imagination and depth to the novel. The imagery was phenomenal and I could constantly picture the scenes occurring meaning I was unable of get it out of my mind when not reading. For me, it was the cleverness and intricacy of the ending, though I was originally confused when reading the first time round, the last couple of chapters really answered you questions and the way Coggan illustrated it was truly smart and intriguing; I had definitely not seen it coming.
This is a thrilling and addictive read, that was certainly darker than I expected it to be; the ending was also perfect. I am very excited for Coggan's future works.
February 15, 2017
"The next J. K. Rowling". LOL.
I won't be falling for that again.
I won't be falling for that again.
December 18, 2014
Rose Elmsworth has a secret. For eighteen years, the world has been divided into the magically Gifted and the non-magical Ashkind, but Rose's identity is far more dangerous. At fifteen, she has earned herself a place alongside her father in the Department, a brutal law-enforcement organisation run by the Gifted to control the Ashkind. But now an old enemy is threatening to start a catastrophic war, and Rose faces a challenging test of her loyalties. How much does she really know about her father's past? How far is the Department willing to go to keep the peace? And, if the time comes, will Rose choose to protect her secret, or the people she loves?
A wonderful book that I devoured in 2 sittings. This book was orginally first drafted when the author was thirteen-if this is the story she can come up with at that age bring on her future books.
A brilliant book that is worth more than five stars.
Thank you to lovereading for allowing me an advance copy.
A wonderful book that I devoured in 2 sittings. This book was orginally first drafted when the author was thirteen-if this is the story she can come up with at that age bring on her future books.
A brilliant book that is worth more than five stars.
Thank you to lovereading for allowing me an advance copy.
May 6, 2015
A future world where one day the sky cracks and let's in souls from another world. Angels, demons who meld with the humans. Angels possess magic, demons are vilified. People undergo a test as teenagers to see if they are worthy to keep the magic soul that resides in them. People who are not deemed worthy to keep their magic souls are leeched of the magic and become like the Ashkind, people who have no magic at all. One teenager, Rose, is also a hybrid, a person that transforms into a killing creature every 6 weeks. This is the story of Rose, her adopted father David who is also a hybrid. They keep their hybrid status secret as hybrids are feared and killed. The ash kind resent the magic people and eventually an uprising occurs, with Rose in the middle of it all. Quite a fast paced book, with little twists here a d there. An enjoyable read.
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